Animal Profile

Smiley is on the at-risk list due to medical and behavioral concerns. Smiley is a senior dog with a missing or severely damaged right eye with a secondary infection of the socket and severe dental disease that has allowed very limited handling while in our care. Smiley would benefit from a quiet low stress environment so their medical concerns can be addressed appropriately. Behaviorally, Smiley has been intermittently social with select staff, but he has escalated to biting a handler when being picked up after his handling assessment, leaving a small gash that drew blood. He has been difficult to remove from kennel due to the intensity of his leash biting.

Let's get to know each other a bit more...

This pet needs emergency placement. Please click here to go to our emergency placement page for more information. This pet is available only through ACC New Hope partners. To adopt or foster, please complete the pre-screener form below. Inquiries sent directly to ACC will not receive a response. Pre-Screener Form Smiley is on the at-risk list due to medical and behavioral concerns. Smiley is a senior dog with a missing or severely damaged right eye with a secondary infection of the socket and severe dental disease that has allowed very limited handling while in our care. Smiley would benefit from a quiet low stress environment so their medical concerns can be addressed appropriately. Behaviorally, Smiley has been intermittently social with select staff, but he has escalated to biting a handler when being picked up after his handling assessment, leaving a small gash that drew blood. He has been difficult to remove from kennel due to the intensity of his leash biting. Smiley was surrendered as a stray, so his past behavior in a home environment is unknown. Smiley initially presented as nervous but warmed up with a slow approach and treats before conducting his handling assessment. He would readily solicit attention from one handler, but escalated to biting a second handler when they attempted to pick him up. Smiley whipped around with his teeth bared and bit them on their thumb, drawing blood and breaking skin. When making attempts to remove him from the kennel, Smiley would screech and intensely leash bite. He would latch onto the leash and pull it into his kennel and could not be redirected, making removing him from the kennel difficult. Due to the concerns displayed in care, we recommend for Smiley be placed in an adult-only home through a New Hope Partner that can address his challenges with the use of a certified professional trainer that uses only positive reinforcement methods.

My medical notes are...

Weight: 12 lbs

Medical Notes

4/3/2026

DVM Intake Exam Estimated age: 10 years Microchip noted on Intake? Negative History: Agency BAR MM pink, moist, CRT <2 sec Observed Behavior - Yellow; Limited ability to examine, resistant to handling, body tense Sedation needed for Intake Is there evidence of suspected cruelty? - No Objective: P = 110 hr R = 32 rr BCS 5/9 Wt = 12 lbs EENT: Right eye absent; residual ocular tissue in socket with significant mucopurulent discharge. Lenticular sclerosis, left eye. Oral Exam: Severe (Stage 3-4/4) periodontal disease with heavy calculus, gingival recession, and gingivitis. PLN: No enlargements noted H/L: NSR, no apparent murmur, CRT < 2, Lungs clear, eupneic ABD: Non painful, no masses palpated U/G: MI (2 testicles descended) MSI: Ambulatory x 4, skin free of parasites, no masses noted. Severe, full-body matting required clipping; mats were coalescing and also covered the right eye. CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities Assessment: -Anophthalmia, right eye, with secondary infection -Severe, generalized matting - resolved -Severe (Stage 3-4/4) periodontal disease Prognosis: Fair Plan: -Standard Intake Procedures for Dogs Performed -Sedation protocol: Dexmedetomidine (5 mcg/kg, 0.05 mL) and Butorphanol (0.2 mg/kg, 0.11 mL) IM, reversed with Atipamezole (0.05 mL) IM. -Clipped matted fur, removed matted fur and tissue covering right eye socket, flushed and cleaned exterior of right eye socket -Diagnostics: Adult wellness blood panel sent out for pre-anesthetic screening. --Treatments: -Convenia 0.55 mL SQ once -Carprofen 0.48 mL SQ once (24-hr injection) -LRS 100 mL SQ once -Gabapentin 100 mg PO BID indefinitely -Clavamox 62.5 mg PO BID x 10 days --Recommendations: -Surgical enucleation of right eye -Neuter at time of enucleation SURGERY: Okay for Enucleation +/- Neuter Surgery -Older

4/3/2026

It is the policy of ACC not to perform surgery on any animal over the age of 8-10 years due to the higher risks incurred in a shelter setting. The veterinarian is hereby issuing a permanent spay/neuter waiver, from the spay/neuter requirements of the City of NY due to the estimated age of this animal. ACC does recommend you consult with your veterinarian to determine if surgical sterilization is appropriate.

4/4/2026

BAR, active and very vocal in kennel, eating well, no c/s/v/d noted. CBC: monocytes 0.838 (H) CHEM: ALT 124 (H), AST 103 (H) T4: wnl Interpretation: Elevated LEs PLAN: Permanent waiver due to age, seek placement for additional veterinary follow-up including evaluation/enucleation of OD and dental procedure. CTM closely at QACC.

4/7/2026

Cageside exam S: DOH-B BARH - at front of kennel soliciting attention MM pink, moist at distance O: EENT: Right eye absent; residual ocular tissue in socket with significant mucopurulent discharge. Lenticular sclerosis, left eye - tracking movement no nystagmus Oral Exam: Severe (Stage 3-4/4) periodontal disease with heavy calculus, gingival recession, and gingivitis - witnessed at distance while panting H/L: Eupneic MSI: Ambulatory x 4 - no ataxia CNS: Mentation appropriate - no signs of neurologic abnormalities A: High FAS reported HX Possible anophthalmia vs chronic globe rupture OD with infection present HX Severe periodontal disease No neurologic abnormalities at this time Prognosis: Fair Plan: Seek placement for further evaluation +/- enucleation of OD and dentistry ADD Trazodone 50mg (~9mg/kg) PO BID TFN

4/15/2026

On 04/15/2026 Smiley was examined. The patient has appropriate mentation at this time (no neurological signs present) and has not exhibited any neurological signs while at QACC.

Details on my behavior are...

Behavior Condition: 5. Red

Behavior History
Behavior Assessment

Date of intake:: 4/1/2026

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray; history unknown

Date of assessment:: 4/5/2026

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: none - loose leash Reactivity to humans: did not pass Reactivity to dogs: did not pass Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): fearful, stays near second handler, jumps up and solicits petting from second handler, wary of first handler Call over: approaches with coaxing Sociability comments: Handling Soft handling: tail tucked, shaking, tense Exuberant handling: tail tucked, shaking, tense Handling comments: Arousal Jog: follows, attempts to go to second handler Arousal comments: Knock: approaches second handler with a wiggly body Knock Comments: Toy: hides behind second handler Toy comments: **After Smiley's assessment was completed, he whipped around with his teeth bared and bit the first handler when they attempted to pick him up to carry him back to his kennel. The bite drew blood and resulted in a small gash.**

Summary (6):: 4/13/26 (KSV): Smiley was at front of kennel lying down. Handler spoke in a soft voice while offering treats thru the bars to Smiley, which he took gently each time. Through out interaction Smiley remained lying in place. 4/9/26 (KSV): Smiley is at front of kennel with a loose and wiggly body. Handler offered treats thru the kennel door bars and Smiley took and consumed them. Smiley kept moving to where the kennel door would swing open. A couple of times Smiley did paw at the door. He was still at the front of the kennel as handler turned to walk away and end interaction. 4/8/26: Smiley is at the front of his kennel vocalizing loudly, initially taking treats from the handler but fixating on the corner of the kennel door where it opens. Smiley immediately once the leash enters his kennel will grab onto it and begins to leash bite intensely. Smiley will vocalize as he does this and can not be refocused with treats or a squeaker noise. Smiley loses focus of the leash briefly as the handler was dropping it and is able to get it back. Smiley is left alone and he begins to dig at the door.

Summary (7):: 4/6 (PM): Smiley is sitting at the front of his kennel when a handler uncovers him. He begins screeching and biting at the kennel bars, pulling on the door as it's unlocked. The handler drops a handful of treats into his kennel to refocus him, and out of concern that he would hurt himself. When attempting to leash him, Smiley latches onto the lead and pulls it into the kennel and does not release when the handler offers treats or toys. He will initially let the end he is holding go and then rush to the front to grab another piece of the lead as the handler attempts to pull it out. The handler switches to trying to clip his collar, and Smiley will put his head in the handler's hand and lean in for pets, but they are unable to reach the ring of his kennel due to his frenetic movements. The handler tries again, and Smiley begins wailing and digging at the handler's hand/wrist/and forearm, leaving red marks and welts. Just as the handler is about to end their attempts, Smiley knocks over his water bucket and soaks his bedding and the handler. He tries to crawl out to the handler, but his collar snags on their fingers. The handler opens the door a little wider, and Smiley jumps into their arms/lap. The handler slowly stands and carries him to the behavior office. Once in the office, Smiley alternates between seeking attention from the handler or a second one who is in the office. He does attempt to mount both handlers, but can be redirected. Once his kennel is ready, the first handler is able to leash Smiley easily, but he begins jumping up and leash biting. He does this twice before following the handler back to his kennel. Once in the kennel, the lead is removed without further issue. 04/05/26: Smiley is sitting at the back of his kennel and allows the handler to leash him with ease. He exits the kennel and walks with the handler to the assessment room. Once inside, a drag leash and collar are placed on him, and he allows all handling. He runs with the handler without becoming aroused and does not respond to the knock. During the toy assessment, he hides behind a secondary handler when the dummy hand is presented. As the handler attempts to reach near him to pick him up to carry him back to the kennel, Smiley bites the handler’s thumb, breaking skin. The second handler walks Smiley back to his kennel. He follows the handler back to the kennel, but begins thrashing briefly when passing several other people in the hallway. The second handler bends to one knee and Smiley scurries over. The handler slowly coaxes him to the kennel and he hops in. The handler able to remove the dag leash without further issue.

Date of initial:: 4/3/2026

Summary:: Limited ability to examine, resistant to handling, body tense Sedation needed for Intake

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to how uncomfortable Smiley is currently with touch and novel stimuli, which has resulted in him escalating to him biting a staff member, we feel that an adult-only home would be most beneficial at this time. Place with a New Hope partner: Smiley has not acclimated well to the kennel environment and has allowed only minimal handling since intake. We recommend placement with a New Hope partner who can provide any necessary behavior modification (force-free, positive reinforcement-based) and re-evaluate behavior in a stable home environment before placement into a permanent home.

Potential challenges: : Handling/touch sensitivity,Leash-biting,Bite history (human)

Potential challenges comments:: Handling/touch sensitivity | Bite history (human): At the end of his handling assessment, Smiley whipped around and bit a handler when they picked him up. His teeth were bared when he whipped around. The bite broke skin and drew blood, leaving a small gash. Please see the handout on Handling/touch sensitivity. Leash Biting: When attempting to leash Smiley to remove him from the kennel, he immediately latches onto leashes and does not readily respond to treats or toys when attempting to refocus him. He then begins screeching after releasing. Please see handout on Arousal.